-Quint- Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 I've only been forging for a month or two and unfortunately very sparingly during that time frame... the two hammers I've been using the most are both cross peens, a 2-1/2 pounder and a 4 pounder. Every time I'm using the peen, I find myself wishing it was diagonal. I feel like I have to get my arms in awkward positions to get the cross to hit where I want it to. So do any of you folks use a diagonal regularly? If so, is it because the other more common direction peens felt "unnatural" to you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickOHH Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 I just made a pair of them and I think they will be the go to hammers for awhile unless I need something bigger. Very natural feel using the peen and a better view of where your working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Move the metal to match the direction of the peen being used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ivan Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 After I made my 45* diagonal cross pein (3.5 lbs) it is all I use for general forging. They are awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 my go to hammers for peening are straight peens I did see a fellow forge a single jack into a diagonal peen at a SWABA meeting once. Heated up the "donor" hammer head and using the shops hydraulic press put the head in at the proper angle and gave it a good bite---which not only gave the base shape it also pushed out the flat face into a nicely rounded one doing most of the work to dress it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalmangeler Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 I use one sometimes, I like a rounding hammer most, but there are jobs where a cross pien is the best tool and other times where a diagnal is the way to go and still other times where a straight is the way to go, I think you need all of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo7 Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Try a double diagonal pein, 4 hammers in 1. RT on here does make them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Quint- Posted December 29, 2015 Author Share Posted December 29, 2015 18 hours ago, Glenn said: Move the metal to match the direction of the peen being used. I've been trying to find a comfortable way of doing that Glenn, but I just seem to get in my own way. I'm sure it's at least mostly due to lack of experience, but while it's happening, I can picture that peen being twisted 45 degrees and putting me in a much more comfortable and efficient position. 18 hours ago, Crazy Ivan said: After I made my 45* diagonal cross pein (3.5 lbs) it is all I use for general forging. They are awesome. Ivan that hammer looks perfect, I like it... Tell my favorite city that I said hello and I'm sorry I haven't visited for a few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 19 hours ago, Glenn said: Move the metal to match the direction of the peen being used. I also move the metal to match the peen being used. It helps when the left hand knows what the right hand is doing . Requires just a little manual dexterity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 29, 2015 Share Posted December 29, 2015 Notice how over the years smithing your "offhand" becomes much more useful and trained? New Students often have trouble working the stock with their offhand while hammering with their primary hand particularly if they are using tongs. (Why I start them with a longer piece of stock so they can see that they can forge before we cut it to size, flip it and have to use tongs...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yanni Rockitz Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Crazy Ivan -- your diagonal peen hammer is legendary. Looks like Thorin the dwarf should be weilding it in his hall of fire. ;-) Regrettably, Crazy Ivan, Turbo, Metal Mangler, and Quint have not been to the site in a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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